With a view along Bath Road from the junction at Kingshill and Okus Road, the Advertiser’s series of aerial shots of Swindon continues to intrigue. This week we again need the help of Swindonians with an eye for detail.
Okus Road (1) takes its name from Okus Farm, which stood at the western end of Swindon Hill and was owned by the Goddard family from the mid 17th century. The thatched Okus Barn, dating from the same time, survived into the 20th century but was demolished in 1975.
Old Swindon Local Board records include a covenant for laying out new streets and sewers at Okus dated 1890 with building dating from around the turn of the 19th century.
The Congregational Church built in 1906 on the corner of Bath Road and Victoria Road is missing from this photograph. Demolished in 1949 the site was later used as a car park before road widening took place in the 1960s, which must date this photograph to the mid 1950s, or perhaps you know differently.
The Swindon Advertiser (2) building can be viewed through a gap in Victoria Road. If you can remember what building once stood next to the Post Office or anything about the shops and businesses in 1950s Old Town, we’d like to hear from you
Kingshill House (3), former home of the Bowly family, was bought by the Borough and converted into a maternity hospital in the early 1930s. This aerial view shows additional buildings in the grounds and also in front of neighbouring Victoria Hospital.
Meanwhile, a collection of Nissan hut type structures stand on the site of the present day Savernake Street Social Hall (4). If you can remember what these buildings were used for, we’d like to hear from you.
St Saviour’s Church (5) in Ashford Road, built by railwaymen in 1889, appears to be lacking a couple of neighbours which might help readers to date this photograph. If you have any suggestions please write to Aerial Memories at Swindon Advertiser, 100 Victoria Road, Swindon SN1 3BE or email us on aerial memories@swindonadvertiser.co.uk.
KEY
1. Okus Road, named after Okus Farm, once owned by the Goddard family
1. 100 Victoria Road – the home of your favourite newspaper!
1. Kingshill House, a former maternity hospital
1. Savernake Street Social Hall. What was the former use of this site?
1. St Saviour’s Church, Ashford Road, which was built by railway workers
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